Short Order

October 17, 2002|By KORKY VANN

The following is a brief dining guide to restaurants mostly in the Greater Hartford area. Each week our restaurant-savvy writer will visit a new spot and tell you all about it. This is not meant to be a definitive dining guide; the restaurants have not paid to be listed. We will rotate the listings each week. the overall price rating is for lunch or dinner for two without tax, tip and drinks.

%% Cost $ = under $25

$$ = $25-49

$$$ = $50 and above

%% Cypress Arms

138 Park Road, West Hartford

860-236-5700

With the World Series approaching and Husky basketball season not far behind, sports fans seeking beer, burgers and big screen TVs might want to check out the Cypress Arms. The small, no-frills neighborhood bar offers just the right atmosphere -- and menu -- for game nights. The noise level is high, prices are low and the mirrored, trophy-lined bar keeps Bass Pale Ale and Sam Adams on tap.

Sandwiches range from a Philly cheese steak, roast beef and ham and cheese to turkey and tuna. Hefty half-pound burgers come with fries and your choice of toppings -- which include blue cheese and bacon.

Seeking something a little less artery-clogging, we tried the grilled chicken salad, a large bowl of fresh greens topped with strips of moist white meat; or the turkey club. The Cypress Arms chef salad features a mound of lettuce, veggies, meats and cheeses.

A Southwestern-Italian hybrid, barbecue chicken pizza, has a thick crust, spicy sauce, plenty of cheese and chunks of chicken.

Food is served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. As the weather gets cooler, the kitchen will be adding hot entree specials to the menu.